Baling press



July 1,1930.

N. N. BURKHOLDER ALmG PRESS Filed sept. 2o', 192s 4 Sheets-Sheet wieBurl/ozdrtr m July 1, 1930. N. N. BURKHOLDER BALING PRESS f 4sheets-sheet 2.

Filed sept. 2o, 1928.

. July 1,' 1930. N. N. BUR'KHQLDER 1,769,331

BALING PRESS Filed Sept. 20, 1928 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 July 1, 1930.

N. N.- BURKHO-LDER- BALING PRESS 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 I Filed Sept. 20, 1928Patented July 1, 1930 ATE FFHCE' NOAH N. BURKHOLDER, OIE EPI-IRATA,IEENNSYL'V'ANIAl IBALING RESS Application. filed september 2o, 1928.serial No. 307,276.

within the baling chamber is in proper posi-V tion to effect therequisite tying operation.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a tying mechanism for abaling press supported for sliding movement along the press togetherwith means operating in an automatic manner to move the mechanism inadirection away from the balingv chamber after the mechanism hascompletedv a tying, said mechanism when so moved operating to properlyposition a wire o r wires across the entrance end of the baling press toassure the proper dispositionof such wire ory wires with respect tothree sides of the bale as said bale is formed within the'balingchamber, the strain imposed upon the wire or wires during-the formationof the bale lserving to move the tying mechanism in a direction towardthe baling chambers and into proper position to effect a tying operationupon completion of a bale within the baling chamber. An additionalobject of the invention is to provide a tying mechanism for a balingpress including a needle mounted for rectilinear movement across theinner or entrance end of the baling chamber. Y

The invention consists in the details of construction and in thecombination and arrangement of the several parts of my improved balingpress whereby certainimportant advantages are-attained and the devicerendered simpler, less expensive and otherwise more convenient andadvantageous for use, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

The novel features of my invention will hereinafter be definitelyclaimed. K

In order that my invention may be the better understood, I will nowproceed to describe the same with reference to the accompanyingdrawings, wherein Figure 1 isa view partly in top plan and partly inlongitudinal section taken through a baling `press having appliedthereto a tying mechanism constructed in accordancewith an embodiment ofmy invention; n

Figure 2 is an elevational view of somewhat a l diagrammatic characterillustrating the movable or sliding parts of the mechanism; I

Figure 3 is a fragmentary view partlyin elevation and partly in sectionillustrating the controlling means for the operating shaft of the tyingmechanism;

Figure 4 is a view partly in section and partly in elevationillustratingthe latching v means under control of the needle;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary view in sider elevation ofthe outer-endportion of the needle; Figure 6 is an enlarged fragmentary view inlelevation of a portion of the tying mechanism asV herein employed; t

Figure 7 is a sectional Aview taken substantially on the line 7 7 ofFigure 6;

Y Figure 8 is a fragmentary View in elevation of the gear casing asillustrated in Figure 7 and the swinging means associated therewith; c

' Figure 9 is a view partly in section and partly in'elevation of themechanism as illusc ing being indicated by broken lines and the seconderinoperative position being in full lines; Y f

Figure l0 is an enlarged detailed sectional view taken substantially onthe line 10--10 of Figure 9; y

Figure 11 is. a fragmentary elevational view of a portion of the meansas herein employed for automatically moving the tying mechanism inadirection away from the baling chamber; i

' Figure 12 is a view similar to Figure 11 showing certain of the partsin second position;

Figure 13 is a fragmentary view partly in top plan and partly in sectionof a portion ofthe mechanism as illustrated in Figure 11 and just beforethe trip dog has been thrown down in position to engage the drivinglever;

Figure 14 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 14-14 ofFigure 11;

Figure is a detailed elevational View of a wire cutter as hereinemployed;

Figure 16 is a diagrammatic view illustratin-g the first step inconnection with the tying operation;

Figure 17 is a diagrammatic view illustrating a second step in the tyingoperation;

Figure 18 is a diagrammatic view illustrating a third step in the tyingoperation;

Figure 19 is a diagrammatic view illustrating a fourth step in the tyingoperation.

As disclosed in the accompanying draw-V ings, B denotes a baling pressof any desired type embodying a plunger' or piston'P arranged toreciprocate withinthe compression or baling chamber C, 'the material tobe baled being delivered into the compression or baling chamber lin anypreferred manner.

The side walls of the press B at a point in advance of but closelyadjacent to the piston or plunger P when at the limit o-f its inward orcompression stroke, are provided with the openings 1 through which theneedle N is adapted to pass. 'The needle N, as herein dis:

closed, is substantially straight from end to end and of a length toextend entirely across the press and a material distance therebeyond..The needle N is carried by a cross head 2 slidably engaged between theoutstanding parallel trackways 3 suitably supported with respect 'to aside of the press B, and the working or free end portion of the needle Nis. transversely enlarged, as at 1, to provide a head, said head beingsubstantially circular in plan and having its peripheral edge providedwith `a groove or channel 5.

The opposite end portion of the needle N, or that portion secured to thecross head 2, is provided with a pair of upstanding and longitudinallyspaced fingers 6 between which is freely directed the outer end port-ionof an elongated arm 7. This arm 7 has its opposite end portion fixed toa vertically disposed shaft 8 rotatably supported '.by a side wall ofthe press B adjacent tothe end thereof remote from the piston P. Thisshaft 8 is also provided with an outstanding rock arm 9 with which theretractile member or spring 10 is engaged to provide means to impartretracting movement to the arm 7 and the needle Y.

Pivotally connected with the free end portion of the arm 9 is an endportion of a rod 11. ntermittent pull is imposed upon the rod 11 throughthe medium of a mechanism comprised within the housing H suitablypositioned upon a side wall of -the press B, said -mechanism beingpreferably of the type disclosed in my Patent No. 1,671,966 dated June5, 1928. As disclosed Vin this prior patent this mechanism is undercontrol of a lug or projection 12 carried by the piston P, the coactionof the lug or projection 12 with theV mechanism within the housing Hbeing such to assure requisite travel of the needle N through the pressor over the entrance end port-ion of the compression chamber' C' uponcompletion of a bale. As this particular mechanism forms no part of thepresent invention and is fully disclosed in my patent hereinbeforementioned, it is not believed necvessary that a detailed disclosurethereof need be given at this time. A Y

The wall of the press B at the side thereof remote from the rod 11 andat a material poi-nt inwardly of the compression chamber C rotatablysupports a shaft 14 adapted to be constantly driven when the press lisin operation. 4The driving of the shaft 11i may be directed from themechanism employed for reciprocating` the piston P or otherwise aspreferred. The shaftl 14 carries a disc 15 provided around its outerface with a continuous internal gear 16 with which is adapted to beengaged a clutch dog 17 pivotally engaged with the free end portion of arock arm 18 carried by the adjacent end portion of a driven shaft 19.This clutch dog 17 is provided with an extended tail piece 20 which isadapted to come in Contact with the release arm 21 carried by a rockshaft 22. This roclr shaft 22 extends along and is suitably supported bythe adjacent wall of the press B and is of a lengt-h to terminate at apoint relatively close to the shaft 8 hereinbefore referred to but atopposite sides of the press B. This forward end portionof the rockshaft22 lis provided with a depending roel; arm 23 which terminatesinwardly of an upstanding shoulder or abutment 24 provided upon an endportion of a lever 25. This lever 25 is supported by the press B forsubstantial reciprocation and has an end portion pivotally connected, asat 26, to a second roclr arm l27 carried. by the shaft 8.

As the needle N lis projected across the compression chamber C, thelever 25 is moved a distance suihcient to permit the requisiterotation'or rocking movement of the shaft 22 to throw the release arm 21in a position free of the tail 2O of the .clutch dog 17 whereupon theclutch dogr17 will engage the internal gear 16 to clutch the shafts 111and 19 for unitary rotation.

This `rocking action of the shaft22 is accomplished automatically, asparticularly illustrated in Figure 4 of the accompanying drawings, by aspring 28, one end `portion be ing suitably anchored, as at 29, to abearing for the shaft 22 while the opposite or free endV portion of thespring 28.has direct contact with the depending rock arm 23. As theneedle N retracts the shoulder or abutment 24 will have ,requisiteContact with the roclr armV a single rotation of the shaft 19 the samewill be automatically declutched. As herein disclosed, the shaft 19referred to is one of three of such shafts, said shafts being in drivenconnection through the instrumentality of the gears 31 whereby all ofvsaid shafts will rotate in unison and in the same general direction. Itis also to be noted that the gears 31 are of such ratio to cause saidshafts to rotate at the same speed.

Supported by the shafts 19 for sliding movement therealong is a frame Fof requisite dimensions, and held to the shafts 19 for slid ing movementtherealong but. for rotation therewith are the bushings 32 each of whichbeing rotatably engaged with a side member 33 ofthe frame F. The shafts19 in the present embodiment of the invention are three in number asoccasioned by the general practice of tying a bale with three wires asis required in shipment by railroad and -it is, therefore, to beunderstood that these shafts 19 in practice are to be of a number equalto the number of tying wires required. f

As the tying lmechanisms directly asso ciated with the shafts 19 are ineach instance the same a detailed description will now be given withrespect to a single one of' such mechanisms. It is also to be understoodin practice that a needle N isto be employed for each tie wire used.

Mounted upon a shaft 19 within the frame F is a casing A, the side wallsof which each having rotatably engaged therewith a bushing 34 slidablyengaged with the-shaft 19 but rotating therewith. Arranged within thecasing A and mounted upon the shaft 19 for ro tation therewith buthaving sliding movement therealong is a disc 35 having'disposedsubstantially three-quarters around its periphery the gear teeth 36adapted tomesh with the gear wheel 37 rotatably supported'within thecasing A. This gear wheel 37 has the central portion of its opposedfaces formed to provide circular recesses 38 and in each of which issnugly engaged a substantially annular flange 39 carried by a sidewallof the casing A. By this means the gear wheel 37 is effectivelymaintained in desired operative position. The detailed construction ofthe casing A forms no part of my present invention and for whichreasonit is illustrated in the ac companying drawings in a conventional man-Tt is to be understood, however, that the casing A will be constructedin any desired manner to facilitate the assembly of the disc 35 and gearwheel 37 therein.

During a single rotation of the shaft 19 the gear 37 will be caused torotate three times, or more if desired. f

This gear 37 constitutes a twisting member for the wire and is providedwith'a radial slot 40 extending-from the Vaxial center of said gear andwhen the teeth 36 are free from the gear 37 said slot 40 will registerwith the Each of theside members 33 of the frame F at a desired pointabove the shaft 19 is provided with a rearwardly directed arm 43 whichprovides a mounting 'for an end portion of a rod 44 extending across theframe F. Freely mounted upon the central portion of the rod 44 forsliding movement lengthwise thereof and also for yvertical swingingmovement are the substantially fiat fingers 45. These fingers 45 are'normally disposed downwardly and outwardly on an angle of substantiallyEach of the fin'- gers is normally maintained in this position throughthe instrumentality of the coil spring 46 encircling the rod 44 betweenthe finger and the adjacent side member 33 of the frame F, one end ofthe spring being anchored to the finger 45 and the opposite end portionbeing suitably positioned to the adjacent side member 33 of the frame.This spring 46, as l particularly the head 4 thereof, and as the needleis projected across the baling orv com-l pression chamber with the wirethe lower portions of the fingers 45 willride upwardly over thelaterally extended portions of said head toy permit the points 47 todrop behind the wire `W so that` the same will be looped around thepoints as particularly illustrated in Figure 6. As the needle N isretracted the head 4 will readily pass therebetween as the lfingers 45will have requisite outward or separating movement. These two separateoperations are materially facilitated by the substantial circularformation of the head 4.

To one side of the lingers 45 the frame F lsupportsy a plate 49 disposedon a downward larly illustrated in Figures 16 to 19 inclusive.

As these fingers 51 continue to rotate a succeeding vfinger engageswithin an adjacent end portion of the wire looped about the fine gers 45and draws a portion of the wire over upon the plate as illustrated inFigure 19, and

to facilitate this operation the adjacent side marginal portion of thelinger 45 next to the plate 49 is cut away, as at 52.

The shaft 50 hereinbefore referred to is driven by the shaft 53 throughthe medium of the intermeshing gears 54 and said shaft 53 in turn isdriven from the shaft 19 through the medium of the intermeshing gears55. One of the gears 55 is carried by a sleeve 56 slidably mounted uponthe shaft 19 but rotating therewith. This sleeve 56 also serves as aVspacing element to maintain certain of the various parts in desiredspaced relation, particularly the casing A.

The second side member 33 of the frame F is provided with an inwardlydisposed plate 57 arranged between said side member 33 and the casing A.This plate 57 is also disposed on an angle of approximately 90 similarto the plate 49, and traveling over a face thereof is a pair ofoppositely directed fingers 58 carried by a shaft 59 driven through themedium of the gears 60 carried by the shaft 61 which in turn is driventhrough the medium of the gears 62 from the shaft 19. Interposed betweenone of the gears 62 and the casing A, and more particularly an adjacent1pushing 34, is a spacing sleeve 63. i The gear 62 ismounted upon theshaft 19 for movement lengthwise thereof but for rotation therewith. Ialso find it of advantage to interpose between the gear 62 and theadjacent bushing 32 a spacing sleeve 64.

As the shaft 59 rotates a finger 58 engages a portion of the wire loopedaround the fingers 45 and draws the same across or over the plate 57 asalso indicated in Figure 19, resulting in the tie wire W having threeportions a arranged in overlapping relation.

During this operation just referred to relative to the arrangement ofthe wire with respect to the plates 49 and 57, the casing A is in its`lowered or inoperative position as indicated by f-ull lines in Figure9, and during which period the intermediate arcuate portion 36 of thedisc 35 will maintain said disc 35 free of the gear 37.

A face of the gear 35 is provided with a suitably formed cam groove 65in which is engaged a part 66 carried by an arm 67. This arm 67 issupported for swinging movement by a second cross rod 68 connecting theside members ofthe frame F at a point below the shaft 19. This arm 67 isintegrally formed with a second arm 69. The arms 67 and 69 convergetoward the cross rod 68 and the outer or free end of the arm69 haspivotally connected thereto a link 7 0 which in turn is pivotallyconnected to a side wall of the casing A as particularly illustrated inFigure 3 of the accompanying drawings. groove is so formed that afterthe portions a of the wire lhave been arranged as indicated in Figure19, the casing A will be thrown upwardly into its working position asindicated The cam At the completion of this twisting operation,

a cutter 71 will properly sever the wire with the free end portion ofthe wire leading from the spool S held by the arms 51 and 58 as parjticularly illustrated in Figures 16, 17 and 18.

To facilitate the proper travel of the arms 53 a portion of the adjacentfinger 45 is also cut away, as at 52.

The cutter 71 is carried by .a portion of a shaft 72 rotatably carriedby the plate 49 along the under surface thereof and said shaft 72 is indriven connection with the gears 73. These gears 73 are of proper ratioto assure the proper cutting of the wire.

The foregoing tying` operation occurs during a single rotation of theshaft 19 and which rot-ation is under control of the member 25hereinbefore referred to and it is, therefore, believed to be obviousthat during the period the bale is being formed within the baling orcompression chamber the shaft 19 is idle. After the completion of atying operation the wire l/V is disposed across the entrance end of thecompression chamber, as particularly illustrated in Figure 16, butbefore the formation of the neXt bale the plunger operates to move theframe F and the partsV carried thereby a predetermined distance alongthe press in a. direction away from the baling or compression chamberresulting in a corresponding len th of wirebeing drawn from the spool S.s the bale is formed within the compression chamber the wire W will becarried inwardly of the compression chamber a distance commensurate withthe extent of bale formation and at the same time the frame F and itsparts will be moved inereturn direction a corresponding distance.

This operation is continued until the frame F at the completion of thebale compression brings the needle of the tying mechanism in proper orworking position. By this means the bale being formed is prevented frombreaking the wire or in any way injuring the bale and thereby assuring acompleted and tied bale as discharged from the press being in the bestpossible condition.

The initial movement of the frame F and its' parts in a direction awayfrom the baling or compression chamber is accomplished automaticallyVunder the action of the piston P. Y

A side wall of the press B is provided with a suitably positioned andlongitudinally directed slot 74 through which is directed a lug orprojection 75 carried by the piston P. This lug or projection 75 isengaged with an elongated member 76 supported for reciprocation by saidside lwall eXteriorly of the press. This member 76 has movement at alltimes with the piston P. Pivotally connected, as at 77 with the sidewall of the press below the member 76 is an arcuate sweep arm 78 which,when moved in one direction, is adapted to have contact with one of thearms 48 of the frame I?. The throw of the arm 78 will move the framey l?and its parts a requisite distance.

Normally the member 76 is free of the sweep arm 7 8. Y

Immediately below the member 76 is a trackway 79 in which is arrangedfor sliding movement a block 80 carrying an outstanding pin 8l which isreceived within an arcuate p slot 82 in the sweep arm 78.

lJivotally connected intermediate its ends, as at 83, to the member 76is a driving lever 84 having its forward or working end grooved, as at85, to have effective engagement or contact with the pin 81 when saidforward end of the driving lever 84 is lowered int-o workingposition.Normally this lever 84 lies substantially parallel to the member 7 6 andout of the path of the pin 81 but just before the shafts 19 eachcompletes its operation the forward end of this lever 84 is forceddownwardly, as in Figure l1, so that upon the next stroke of the plungeror piston i) the pin 81 will coact with the sweep arm 7 8 in a manner toimpart the desired travel to the frame F, as illustrated in Fig` ure 12.1When the lever 84 is in workingpositi-on it will be noted that it isdirected on a forward and downward incline and when the sweep arm `7 8ris at the limit of its movement, the arcuate tail piece 86` continuingfrom the pivoted end ofthe arm 78 will bring a roller 87 in the pathoftravel of the lowered forwardend of the lever 84-so that as the member76 returns the roller 87 will engagevthe under surface of the lever 84and return the sameto its normal position or any position parallel withthe Vmember 76. It is to be noted that the sweep arm 78 will be returnedas the frame F is intermittently returned during the formation of thebale.

it a point above the forward portion of the lever 84 the adjacent sidewall of the press B is provided with an outstanding rock shaft 88terminatingin a lateral extension 89, and also carried by the shaft 88directly above the lever 84 but in advance of this pivotal mounting 83is a dog 90.

Connected to the dog 90 and `to the adjacent side wall of the press B isa retractile spring 91 which, when the shaft 88 is rocked in onedirection, serves to maintain said dog 90 and the extension 89 of theshaft 88 in raised position and when said dog 90 has been moveddownwardly to lower the forward end portion of the lever 84 the spring91 serves to maintain the dog in such position.

One of the shafts 19 has secured thereto a suitably positionedoutstanding arm 92 to the pin 81; As the member 76 moves for-A ward theraised rear portion of the leverv84 will have contact from below withthe dog 9() and throw or return the same to its raised or normalposition with the'resultant retur to the horizontal of the extension 89.

From the foregoing description it is thought to be obvious that a balingpress constructed in accordance with my invention is particularly welladapted for use by reason of the convenience and facility with-which itmay be assembled and operated, and it V.will

also vbe obvious that my inventionis suscep- Y tible of soniecliange andmodificationV without departing from the principles and spirit. thereofand for this reason I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself tothev precise arrangement and formation of the several parts herein shownin carrying out my invention in practice except as hereinafter claimed.Y

I claim v Y 1. In combination with a baling press including acompression chamber and a plunger working therein, a wire carryingneedle supported by the press at one side thereof, means for directingthe needle through the press upon completion. of a bale within thecompression chamber and for retracting the needle, spaced fingersarranged at the side of the press toward. which the needle travels whencarrying wire through the compression chamber, the needle traveling anextent to carry the wire beyond said fingers, means for supportingsaidfingers for movement toward or from each other and for'swingingmovement, said fingers afterthe yneedle has passed therebeyond engagingthe wire from within at opposite sides of the needle for holding thewire extended through the compression chamber when the needle isretract.

press upon completion of a bale vwithin the f compression chamber andfor retractingthe needle, spaced fingers arranged at the side of thepress toward which the needle travels when carryingwire through thecompression chamber, the needle traveling fanv extent to carry the wirebeyond said fingers, means for supporting said fingers for movementtowardv or from each other and for swinging move- 6 Lrzesat 1 chamberwhen the needle is retracted, means v for drawing the wire at oppositesides of the lingers, said means holding portions of the wire inoverlying relation, and a twisting means engageable with said overlyingpor- 3. In combination with a baling press including a compressionchamber and a plunger ,working therein, a wire carrying needle supportedby the press atV one vside thereof, means for directing the needlethrough the press upon completion of a bale within the compressionchamber and for retracting the needle, spaced lin-gers arranged at theside of the press toward which the needle travels when carrying wirethrough the compression chamber, the needle traveling an extent to carrythe wire beyond said lingers, means for supporting said iin'gersformovement toward or from each other and for swinging movement, saidlingers after the needle has passed therebeyon-d engaging the wire fromwithin at opposite sides of the needle for holdingthe wire extendedthrough the compression chamber when the needle is retracted, means fordrawing the wire at opposite sides of the lingers, said means holdingportions of the` Wire in overlying relation, a twisting means engageablewith said overlying portions, means for supporting said twisting meansfor sliding movement along the press, means operating automatically tomove said twisting means in a direction away from the compressionchamber after the twisting operation, said means being returned toworking position under the influence of the bale as formed within thecompression chamber.

4. A device of the class described including -a compression chamber, aplunger working therein, a'wire carrying needle, means for directingsaid needle across the compression chamber, a tying mechanism supportedfor sliding movement toward or from the compression, said tyingmechanism becoming eittective after the wire has been directed acrossthe compression chamber, said tying mechanism including a member forholding the free end of the wire so that said tying mechanism when movedin a direction away from the compression chamber will draw a length ofwire therewith, said tying mechanism being returned to working positionby the pull imposed upon the wire as the bale is formed within thecompression chamber.

5. A device of the class described including a compression chamber, aplunger working therein, a wire carrying needle, means for directingsaid needle across the compression chamber, a tying mechanismsupportedfor sliding movement toward or from the compression chamber,said tying mechanism becoming eiiective after thewire has been directedacross the compression chamber, said tying mechanism including a membervfor holding theV free end of the wire so that said tying mechanism whenmoved in a direction away from the compression chamberv will draw alength of wire. therewith, said tying' mechanism being returned toVworking position by the pull imposed upon the wire as the bale is formedwithin the compression chamber, the means for holding the tyingmechanism in a direction away from thecompression chamber comprising amember supported for reciprocation, means for coupling the savmete' theplunger-for movement therewith, a pivoted sweep arm, and means`operating automatically afterI the completion of a tying operation to'engagethe reciprocating member with the sweepl armA to move thesweepuarm in a direction in contact with the tying .mechanism to-impartmovementto such mechanism in 'adirection awayfrorn they compressionchamber.

6'. A device of he class: described comprisinga cempressionchamber, aplunger workirng'tlierein, a need-le1 traveling acrossl the compress-ionAchamber and carrying a double strand "oft wire thereacrosslsaidfneedle-.being normally-retracted beyond one side of the compressionchamber, aftying means at the opposite sides of the cempression chamberandy including a mechanism normiaill I clamp-` an end portion ofthe-wire, means for arrangingthe portions of the-wire adjacent the tyingmeans; into a plurality of overlyiim7 portions, said tying meansengaging said overlying-portions to twistthe same one about the others,means for' severing the wire after such twisting action, said tyingmeans being normally in van inoperativeA position, and means for'automatically Vmoving said tying means intor working position after thecompletion of' the bale land the arrangement of. the, overlying portionsof the wire.

In testimony whereof` I hereunto aiix my signature..

NOAH N. BURKHOLDER.

